Question from Amanda Shaw
My dog keeps shaking his head and scratching his ears, they feel a little bit swollen but they are cleaned often so no mites he is lively and not off his food I’m at a loss.
Answer from Shanika Winters MRCVS, online vet
Hi Amanda and thank you for your question about your dog’s ears. It is great that you are cleaning your dog’s ears regularly. I will discuss a list of possible causes for your dog to be shaking his head, scratching his ears and for the swelling followed by some treatment options.
Why is my dog shaking his head and scratching at his ears?
The symptoms you have described could be due to a foreign body e.g. a grass seed down the ear canal, bacterial or yeast infection, skin allergy, parasites e.g. ear mites, polyps or an aural haematoma (blood blister) all of which can be painful.
Grass seeds are a common finding down the ear canal of dogs that go for walks in the countryside. The shape of a dog’s ear canal has an upright tube (vertical canal) and then a 90-degree bend and a sideways tube (horizontal canal) at the end of this is the eardrum (tympanic membrane), this lends itself to getting things lodged inside.
A foreign body like a grass seed can usually be seen by your vet with the help of an otoscope (hand held torch with a magnifying lens and a funnel). Grass seeds can usually be removed using a special pair of long grabbing forceps. Some dogs will, however, need sedation or a general anaesthetic to allow the removal and examination to be carried out safely. We often send dogs home with antibiotic and pain relief after foreign body removal to combat any infection and pain.
Bacterial and yeast infections of the ear are conditions that affect the skin that lines the inside of the ear canals. The shape of the ear canal along with the ear flap (pinna) tends to funnel in moisture and trap germs. Dogs with a large floppy pinna, such as Spaniels, have the added feature of a closed lid over the ear canal all leading to a great environment for germs to breed. Infection may be present on other parts of the body and the whole animal may need treatment not just the ears.
If the condition is only affecting the ears then ear cleaning solution and antibiotic drops can be a very effective treatment. Ask your vet or veterinary nurse to show you the best way to use them, if you’ve never applied drops.
In situations where it is affecting other areas of skin, then injectable or tablet medications may be given. This allows the drugs to travel in the bloodstream and reach more areas of the body. When infections are not clearing up your vet might suggest taking swabs from the area. The swabs are sent to the laboratory for bacteriology and sensitivity. This tells us which bacteria and yeasts are present, and which drugs should be effective against them.
Skin allergy can affect the ears as the ear canals are lined by skin, diagnosis and treatment of skin allergy can involve swabs, biopsy samples and skin scrapes analysed at your vets or sent to a laboratory. Treatment of skin allergy can involve use of low allergy diets, shampoos, desensitisation vaccines, antibiotics, antihistamines and various immunosuppressant drugs.
Parasites including ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) and ticks (Ixodes varieties) can lead to irritation and then bacterial infection of the ears. Ticks are usually visible to the naked eye but ear mites are more easily seen under a microscope. Use of an appropriate antiparasitic treatment and removal of the parasites are the best method of treatment.
Aural haematoma, this is a blood blister usually found on the outer skin of the ear pinna, seen as a swollen area which often causes the ear to droop. The swelling is soft and fluid-filled, it is often the result of a trauma such as a dog fight or vigorous ear shaking.
The haematoma develops as small blood vessels in the ear burst and the blood leaks under the skin. This separates into a pink-tinged fluid and a thicker dark red clot. Some dogs are prone to recurrence of aural haematomas and repeat treatments may be needed. There are two main methods of treatment; draining via a needle or surgical drainage under a general anaesthetic. Antibiotics, steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs may also be given in the form of tablets, injections or directly into the ear.
Ear polyps are growths of different size that occur inside the ear canal, they are usually diagnosed on examination using an otoscope. Polyps are usually not cancerous but if there is any doubt then the polyp can be sent to a laboratory for analysis after removal. Small-sized and numbers of polyps may not cause a problem to your dog but if there is irritation they can be removed surgically, in more serious cases removal of part or all of the ear canal may be an option.
In conclusion, it is really important to have your dog’s ears examined by your vet so that a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment can be started. I hope that my answer has been helpful and that your dog has much more comfortable ears as soon as possible.
Shanika Winters VetMB MRCVS (online vet)
you may also be interested in these related dog health articles on VetHelpDirect;
- Why is my dog drooling?
- Vestibular Syndrome – strokes in dogs
- Yeast and allergies – what’s the link in dogs?
- Why is my dog scratching? He hasn’t got fleas!
- Does my dog have a skin infection?
- Is skin disease in dogs inherited?
Discussion
My gsd who is 3 months old is being treated for an ear infection,before ear infection his ears were upright but now his ear are floppy ..Is it due to ear infection and will they return to being upright on their own??
Almost certainly, and yes!
They’re probably “floppy” because they’re uncomfy when held upright, once the infection is cleared, hopefully they’ll be comfortable to be held normally.
Consulted vet about family collie’s itchy ear. Vet said it was ‘ a bit red’ but nothing to worry about – no advice given. Dog still scratching several weeks on
I’d be inclined to go back and say it’s carrying on and needs more investigation please!
My dogs recently got into a fight. One of them bit and held on to the other’s ear/region close to the ear for a solid 20-30 seconds while me and one of my family members pulled them in the opposite direction to separate them. There’s no visible injury on the ear. However, my dog since the fight has a droopy ear on the bite side and keeps shaking his head pretty often. What could be the reason? I do see some kind of discharge (95% sure that it’s transparent) from that ear but I don’t know where it’s origin is.
P.S, prior to the fight, both his ears were upright and there was no discharge.
There could be an injury deeper in the ear canal, or else there’s an infection under the skin weeping through a very small wound. I would definitely recommend a vet check to see what’s going on before it scars though.
I have a neutered 2.5 yo alaskan malamute that I thought had an ear infection. His symptoms were head shaking, scratching at his ears and crying and when I flushed them with the cleaning solution I got from our vet he cried on the left side. Took him in and she saw no signs of infection, mites or inflammation. He has no discharge or smell from his ears. She found a small growth in his left ear right beside his ear drum. We have been treating it with and Otic solution but his ear scratching or head tilting haven’t eased at all. I am just wondering where we go from here? She advised if it didn’t clear up it would be outside her scope. How common are ear tumors, and how do they treat them? Thank you so mucyh.
Ear tumours aren’t that common in dogs, but it does sound like that you might be dealing with something pressing against the ear drum causing discomfort. If the problem doesn’t resolve, probably time to consider a referral to an ENT specialist. In most cases, the treatment of choice is surgical resection – and many of these masses are benign so once removed, that’s it.
Our dog has been scratching one ear and shaking her head for 4 days now. One day 2, the vet sedated her, look at both ears thoroughly and said they were both “clean as a whistle”. No bacteria, parasites, stickers, etc. He said it could be an allergy. Does an allergy affect only one ear? She’s still scratching and bothered by just the one ear. It’s not improving. What can I do to help her?
It’s pretty unusual… but not unheard of! Have you trialled any meds? If she responds to steroids, for example, that’s a pretty good marker that it’s an inflammatory or allergic problem.
I have a BRT, he never had an ear issue until the vet changed his food to a “low fat” food. Then everything went down hill. Skin issues, hotspots, ear infections, etc. I didn’t realize BRT’s rely heavily on Fish oils for healthy skin. Now, I’m adding Salmon oil to meals. Now I a horrible problem with ears I can’t get seem to get a handle on. I’m spending a lot on money and endless trips to the vet, I can’t keep knocking my dog out every time they need to look in his ears! I get the same answers, his ears are to hairy, it’s probably yeast, but when they use medication, it takes 2-3 weeks then we’re right back to where we started! So frustrating, and now my dog is afraid of the vet because of the way they’ve treated him!!
These issues can be incredibly frustrating!
Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy fix – once ears start becoming inflamed, they tend to be self-perpetuating. In many cases there are underlying skin issues which are being held in check elsewhere, but are flaring up in the ear canals (allergic dermatitis, in most cases).
It may be worth talking to the vets about a full skin workup to try and see if that is the case; if not, there’s a good chance you;’re going to end up having to try a surgical approach: a lateral wall resection will often resolve these issues, and if that doesn’t, a TECA (total ear canal ablation) will leave him hard of hearing but no. longer itchy and comfortable again.
Good luck!
My dogs 17 has bad teeth and is now on antibiotics the rest of her life . But. Just noticed her love for her ears to be rubbed when she’s always had bad ears for Imeditation for seigers. And hated her ears rubber. Do ya think the antibiotics are drying her ears out .what can I do.
It’s pretty unlikely – although long-term antibiotics could be causing a yeast overgrowth in the ears, perhaps? Have a chat with your vet and see if you can get an ear swab run to see if there are Malassezia yeasts – or indeed anything else! – living in there.
My dog he shaking his head and itching at his ears a lot then sometimes rolls on his back and rubs his head eith the itch and we are trying to figure how can get eat drops or what can get or do that cheap
You’ll need to see a vet to find out what’s going on – there are lots of possibilities, and only your vet is able to tell you the cause and therefore prescribe the most appropriate treatment.
My Frenchie is one when he was around four months old he started shaking, rubbing, and scratching his ear. It got bad to the point he was balding at the back of his left ear I took him to two different vets and they both said nothing was wrong with his ear and gave me medication and a cone to put on him when he rubs. I don’t know what to do I hate seeing my dog in pain, these vets won’t help me find out what’s wrong I suggested it might be an ear infection but they said no. My dog is an indoor dog and is only outside to do his business. What do you suggest I should do?
If two different vets have both said it isn’t an ear infection, it probably isn’t one. If the symptoms aren’t resolving with the treatment, though, definitely go back and say that it’s not getting better; and consider asking for a referral to a hospital facility with more sophisticated imaging and diagnostic techniques.
Hi, my 1 year old yorkie has had skin irritations and gut health issues since we brought him home. We currently take him in for a shot that takes the itch out of his skin every 2 months or so. We have done food trials, changed cleaning and laundry products and nothing has worked. We’ve also had him checked and treated for mites and treated him for mange and found nothing. But even with the itch shot, he shakes his head often and itches his ears. Not as bad with the itch shot but he still visibly has discomfort. He looks healthy and doesn’t have any hot spots. Has healthy coat and is a healthy weight. We’ve got his bowels under control but the itch and head shaking persists. What else could be causing this? Thank you
Atopy can be really hard to get under control – there isn’t a single answer, it’s usually a question of finding the combination of treatments that works for that dog. Keep going, it sounds like you’re getting there!
Why is my dog scratching shaking his head an ears are red at nite only
They’re probably itchy all the time, but at night with less to distract him he starts to scratch. Vet time I think, to have a look down inside and see what’s going on!
Your advice is most unhelpful
I’ve came
Across
I’m most forearms useless to say the least ur telling people
What they tel u in a different way it’s
Shocking
I’m afraid I’m not sure what the problem is?
Hi I noticed my dog itching his ears and shaking his head pretty consistently. No redness or gunk that I can see however he has some loose hairs that have fallen into the ear canal, could this be the cause??
It’s possible, and you could try a (ONE OFF) use of an over-the-counter ear cleaner to flush them away. However, deeper ear infections don’t always give clear signs of a problem, so if there’s no improvement, it’s definitely vet time: your vet will be able to use an otoscope to visualise the horizontal as well as the vertical ear canal and see what’s going on down there.
Hi my 4 year old Boston terrier has environmental allergies but has never had an ear infection. He recently had AMHI and was treated with high dose prednisone which caused Calcinosis cutis infection skin and tongue. Surgery on tongue a few days ago and DMSO for skin lesions. He’s on Atopica now and an antibiotic for after the tongue surgery. He can’t have allergy meds anymore. He’s been shaking and scratching at his ears for a week and a half. The vet looked and saw nothing wrong but it’s getting worse. He’s keeping me up at night wanting his ears scratched and I’m sure he’d love if he could get a brush in his ears to scratch them. That’s how bad it is. No wax, no redness, vet sees nothing but I called her again and she’s giving me Aurizon to try. I have a frenchton that gets ear infections with very visible signs and no doubt when it’s an infection. Could the bostons ears be infected with no visible signs or should I be taking him to see someone else. Thank you for any advise you can give. Much appreciated.
It could be an infection, but allergic skin disease frequently causes ear signs before other skin issues, or even persisting after the other signs have subsided. The next step would seem to be swabbing the ears for cytology (which most practices can do in-house) and a culture and sensitivity, because it’s quite possible that there’s a bacterial or yeast infection brewing in there, maybe caused by the recent immune chaos the poor boy’s been through!
Definitely time for some topical treatment, but ideally, work out if there’s anything growing in there first.
Overall, though, I’d advise patience: allergic skin disease is often challenging to control, but it almost always can be managed with a suitable mixture of drugs, immunotherapy, and environmental modification. It just takes a long time to work out what regime they need!
The last couple nights there in the middle of the night my dog has been shaking her head and itching one of her ears . During the day I don’t see any of that happening .
That is a bit odd…
I suppose it might be there’s some sort of insect bothering him only at night (mosquitoes, for example? I don’t know if you have them in your geographic location!); alternatively, it might be a relatively mild itching and irritation that he can ignore while there are distractions during the day, but that gets worse in the quiet of night.
However, especially if it’s definitely one ear, that does suggest it needs looking at, so I’d make an appointment for her with your vet!
My dog has skin allergies which the vet prescribed Prednisone,once that is all used up in 2 -3weeks he’s flapping his ears again is there something I can buy instead of getting repeat prescriptions for this
What you need to do is work with your vet to work out exactly what’s going on – “allergies” is a very vague concept. What is the dog allergic to? Can the triggers be avoided? Allergic skin disease is often difficult to control longer term and most dogs require multiple overlapping medications; steroids like prednisolone are very cheap and effective, but also come with lots of side effects, so more sophisticated medications and other approaches such as immunotherapy and allergen avoidance are usually used either instead or as well.
I think it’s time to have a chat with your vet about the best options for long term management – because no, there are no legal over the counter remedies, and none that are likely to be effective.
Hello can you please tell me all about spaying my 7 month puppy what age should this procedure take place and how much does it cost in sterling U.K. currency thank you
I’m afraid the answers to your question are “how long is a piece of string”!!! However, there’s an up to date article on this here: https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2022/01/12/what-is-the-best-age-to-spay-your-dog/
The shaking heads are either caused by the the tick an flea dip or tick and flea shampoo that gets absorbed but the skin or inguested as it contains pesticides or a chemical that attacks the nervousystem of the brain
Almost never here in the UK, now that organophosphates are banned and almost everyone is using more modern safer medications. Far more likely it’s due to parasites or an infection.
My dog keeps itching his left ear and it is redder than his right ear. He doesn’t have any other symptoms, so what could it be?
The most likely cause is that there’s an ear infection or, less likely, a foreign body like a grass blade in there. But you need a vet to check those ears and see what’s going on down there, so I’d advise you to get him booked in to be seen.
My boxer/labrador mix won’t stop scratching his ears. We have tried prescription ear drops and cleaning solution from his vet. We even switched him to a grain-free diet per his vet. Nothing we have done seems to work.
I think it might be time to have a chat to your vet about some more tests – for example, swabbing his ears or considering a workup for skin allergies. Good luck!
Our Golden Retriever was have some discomfort in her ears causing her to scratch at them, so we used an ear flush solution that we had been provided by a vet to clean out both ears. It is now almost a full day later and she is still shaking her head and making her ears flap. Is this a common behavior or should I have her seen for further examination?
No, that isn’t normal – ear flush is great for maintaining healthy ears, but won’t usually solve a problem once they get infected or inflamed. It sounds like she does need a vet, but the good news is that it is unlikely to have done any harm!
My French bulldog has been shaking his ears and scratching them for a while now I’m reluctant to take him to the vet as they seem to diagnose him with things (in the past !) that he hasn’t got what.a ulcer in his eye after going out for a walk when realistically it was fine the day after
But this has got to the point we’re I’m getting stressed he’s rubbing up and down the on carpet when he gets the chance as we don’t have carpets just flooring but I’ve tried different things two different types of ear drops and some white powder that my friend who was a vet in the pet shop gave me can’t remember the name now he’s doing it AGAIN I just don’t get it I think I’m gonna have to take him to the vets now I don’t understand it as some days he won’t do it atall and others he will is it for attention or genuine I think it’s got to the point we’re I need to know
That does sound very suspiciously like a skin allergy, which Frenchies are reported to be more prone to. Definitely better to get a diagnosis sooner than later, although please be aware, the process for diagnosing allergic skin disease can be quite prolonged as in some cases there are many other conditions that need to be ruled out.
Hi, new to area and have taken yorkie to same groomer twice. A few days after her last grooming she was going crazy scratching ear, I looked online and found Vet (Holidays). He gave her two shots? and ear drops on each ear, today she still had crust and he just gave her two more drops on each ear. I asked if I should be draining or doing something at home. Very expensive two weeks and another follow up next week.. a friend mentioned her yorkies Vet gave her drops for two weeks and follow up visit.. is this Vet taking me for a fool and making money or is it normal… plz help and thnx in response
Marcie
It depends exactly what the drops are. There are a wide range of different medications, including some that only need applying once and that last for a week or more.
My sister has a pitbull and on her right ear it’s swollen and she won’t stop scratching it. Any suggestions. She has it so bad that it’s swollen and bloody
This might well be an aural haematoma – it looks impressive, but it’s actually almost always a symptom of an underlying ear problem. Definitely a vet job this one – don’t try and treat at home!
Need some advice my Rottweiler is three years old his tail was dark when he was a baby I’ve had him since he was five weeks but it appears that his tail was talked way too low he rubs his buttocks on people all the time and today I looked and it’s like he has two butt holes because where his tail was docked it still hasn’t healed it’s not an open gaping wound it’s a healed wound but it still bleeds it gets a moist crust it’s stinky so I started to wash it two times a day and I am starting to put Cortizone 10 on it but he licks it profusely at times he’s very uncomfortable I can tail and I’d like to know what I could do to get hair to grow back and stop it from bothering him I want him to be comfortable
Get him to a vet ASAP. Steroid cream will just make matters worse.
This is one reason docking is unethical, and also illegal in most countries.
I have a shihtzu puppy it’s 44days old today (9th November 2021)… I brought him yesterday. I have noticed my puppy scratching his ear a lot..
if it is a problem of fleas then please suggest a solution which doesn’t cost a lot.
Scratching an ear might be fleas, and there are a wide range of safe flea treatments available – although I’m not sure exactly what products are available legally without prescription where you are . However, I feel that if it’s just the ear and especially if just one ear, then an ear infection might be the issue, and that really could do with a vet check.
Tell me the medicine for my dog frequently shaking head ,some brown color discharge is also there from one ear ,he is pamilon dog of 5 year of age,pls tell me some medicine to cure it
It depends what’s causing the signs, there are lots of possibilities, from infection to ear mites to allergies to foreign bodies. Your vet will need to examine the ear and then prescribe the appropriate medication.
I thought this was vethelpdirect.com NOT Bettergoseeyourvet.com – it sure seems that almost every solution is “better take your dog to your vet!” what is the point of this forum if every answer is take them to the vet?
Because over the internet we can’t do a physical examination of your dog, look down their ears with an otoscope, smell the discharge, or swab it for pathogens. If all the indicators are that it’s nothing serious we’ll advise on home care, but if there’s a significant possibility that it’s something that may be serious then the only responsible action is to advise veterinary attention from someone wualified who can do all those things,
My dog is 11 years old. She is constantly shaking her head and scratching her ears. She also bites on her paws. She sometimes gets these real dry patches on her skin . Help please. She has been to a vet many times but it works for about a month with an allergy shot and an antibiotic then back to scratching and chewing again.
It might be worth talking to your vet about a longer term solution using a combination of different medications, to try and find a combination that is effective over a longer period.
Have 12 yr old King Charles. I am assuming it is allergies but he has is on Apoquel and has had a Caddy shot (Sorry if spelling off) Shakes his head so hard he almost falls over. There is no discharged or redness around ear canal. When you just touch ear flap his back legs start going crazy (Like he is riding a bike). He walks with head tilted to one side almost to point of ear is pointing straight down to floor.
That does sound like allergic skin disease, poor boy!
I think it’s worth talking to your vet; there are lots of different medications for allergic skin and ear disease; none of them is perfect, but for almost all dogs, we can find an optimal combination which, together, will control or even resolve the symptoms. Good luck!
My Blue Heeler dog shakes his head quite frequently and sometimes tilts his head. He has done this for years, to varying degrees. Sometimes it is really bad. We have been to the vets and they have sedated him and looked and can find nothing wrong. Clean ears, nothing in there, no infections, soreness etc. I have tried antihistamines, natural allergy spray, i frequently dab the insides with a natural soothing spray for dogs, we use grain-free food, and now we are trying Cytopoint. This worked fantastically for the first month. Now on the second dose I can see already it is slightly less effective. I am totally at a loss of what to try next.
This is highly suggestive of allergic skin disease, such as atopic dermatitis. It might be worth talking to your vet about some of the other medical options to use alongside the antibody therapy; or even consider a referral to a veterinary dermatologist. Allergic skin disease can be really frustrating to manage, but for most dogs we can find the right combination of treatments to keep them comfy – so good luck!
Hi, I have a rottweiler that is tearing at back of ear has it tore quite painful when wiping it and keeps looking up at sky. What could be problem?
Sounds like an ear infection of some sort – definitely vet time!
I have an almost 8 month old long hair Chihuahua and he just started shaking his head. He will give a few small shakes, like shakes 3 or 4 times for 2 seconds each, and then he will scratch at his ear. He hasn’t done this before and I won’t be able to see the vet for another month.
I’d suggest calling your vet and talking to them – ear problems are pretty common in long-haired dogs, and while it might be something really harmless, it could be more of an issue like a deep infection or ear mites.
So, I have this neighbour’s dog that has started living with me and he had this eye issue a month back, his eyes were watering excessively and he could keep them open for quite long but they did some treatment with some eye drop and it was under control but since yesterday I have noticed that he is twitching constantly and has this bulge on his right side of the head near the ear. I am not really if that bulge was always there or not.
I think that needs seeing again by the vet – it may or may not be related to the previous eye problem, but constant twitching and a new swelling always requires a check up. Good luck!
Correction : Couldn’t
Couldn’t *
My puppy 3 month near old, German shepherd.she refuse to drink and eat as usual but she is still energetic but she goes to toilet maximum 5 times a day and she is becoming lean.why she refuse to drink and eat?
Loads and loads of possible causes I’m afraid – you’ll need to get her checked out by your vet!
My dog keeps shaking and when she walks her head keeps bubbling and she keeps Tilting over
This suggests either a bad ear infection or an inner ear problem – I’d strongly advise getting her checked by your vet.
Hello, hopefully this website is still running, there are a few dogs in my neighborhood. One of them got into a fight with invading strays during heat and lost a piece of it’s ear. We prevented flies and maggots using scruworm until it healed but now it constantly shakes it’s head and scratches it’s ear. I have no access to a vet what cand I do?
It sounds like there may be some long lasting infection in there, or possible nerve damage. I’m afraid that veterinary attention is now needed – is there a humane society or charity that may be able to put you in touch with a local veterinarian?
Why is my Pitbull puppy of about 3 1/2 months severely scared to be completely on her back and head faced to the sky as well? Also, while in this position it seems to be a lot worse for her if her belly is rubbed at the same time. She acts like she’s going to die, she try’s to force her head to at least be turned side ways parallel to the floor. She just can’t seem to handle it, I tested it to try and figure out why for a second and she literally was so scared a little poop came out. I felt horrible, and really want to know why it’s such a big fear for her. It’s odd to me because she rolls to her belly all the time and receives belly rubs. Makes no sense to me. Does anyone have any idea what the problem is?
It’s a very vulnerable position; plus, many dogs find it more difficult to breathe in that position. If she’s that nervous, though, a behavioural consult might be a good idea with a good qualified force-free canine behaviourist.
My chihuahua/Boston terrier mix has just been to the vet a couple days ago. They check his ears and they didn’t see anything. He still proceeds to shake his head and scratch at his ears. What could this be?
There are a number of possibilities, including skin allergies (which often cause itchy ears for no obvious reason, especially in the early stages), or something rarer such as neurological or jaw hinge problems. I think if it’s not resolving, a follow up conversation with your vet is needed.
My dog has had recurrent ear infections in the past which goes away with oral ABs Amoxicillin and ear cleansers. However recently after being sent to the vets she was given 1 course of ABs Amoxicillin but it was unresoved, prescibed another ABs Cephalexin still she was the sane after a week. She is eating, drinking well. Still active and herself. But the shakes are what worries me. Could it be something else?! I have taken her to the vets 3x already. Ear is clean, no discharge, no smell. I have nit fed her chicken since cause I thought it might be allergies. My dog is a 9yo female english lab.
Allergies are a the most likely possibility, but food allergies are quite uncommon. Your vet will be able to do a skin work up to look for other signs of allergic skin disease, which often present in the ears first of all.
Alternative explanations would include ear mites, or deeper infection or damage to the middle ear; definitely time to go back to the vet and say “it’s not working, we need to look for something else”.
My dog seems very lethargic and the last couple of days as a sudden head shake like a shudder. Is this something I should worry about, she is 11 years old lhasa rapso/bischon. Is it something to do with her brain?
It may be, or a severe ear infection, or any one of a number of other causes. I think she needs a vet check as soon as you can, to determine what the cause is, as lethargy + another symptom usually indicates a more severe condition.
Why is my dog shaking her head when she only got 6 days left to have her puppies
There are lots of different possibilities, behavioural, hormonal and others, but ear infections are still quite likely! Give your vet a ring for advice. Many ear medications are best avoided during pregnancy, so this is time for a conversation with your vet.
My dog is 15 years old she is hanging her head low ,shaking her head and crying
There’s clearly something wrong, whether it’s ear disease or something else – call your vet for advice.
hello so i have a 1 year old dog and for about a month and a half he has been scratching his ears vigorously to the point were it looks like hes hurting himself and causing red marks on himself.hes also been shaking his head alot too n i noticed that as time went on he continued to scratch and started having hair loss on the tips of his ears and the base.i took him to get seen by a vet and they said there is nothing wrong with him and that there is no really cure for what they think it is.i was wondering if anyone has some advice or any kind of cream or lotion to help sooth his itchy ness
If he’s self-traumatising then there must be an underlying problem. It might be an infection, or skin allergies (which often cause itchy ears), or parasites (such as ear mites or mange), or even (very rarely) a brain injury making him think it itches. In any case, it needs a proper diagnosis. I suggest you either go bakc and say you want more tests done to determine the cause, or that you seek a second opinion from another veterinarian.
Ok so need help. I have a 14 year old Boston terrier for the past week she yelps when she gets off the couch. She won’t eat unless I spoon feed her and it’s only soft food. She won’t shake her head at all . She doesn’t play all she wants to do is lay around
Hi! I have a 15 year old pug Pom mix and she’s doing the exact same thing. I have taken her to the vet like 5 times in the past month and nothing is getting any better. Have you received any information since this post?? I’m desperate. I am taking her to a new vet but it’s not for another two weeks. I hope she holds out cuz I need a second opinion. I hate seeing my girl like this. Please help
There’s not a lot you can do without veterinary input, because it all depends what the underlying cause it.
I think she needs a vet check as soon as possible – a dramatic change in behaviour and clear signs of pain mean she needs veterinary attention.
My 10 year old terrier cross has been shaking his head and scratching his ears intermittently for about a year. The vet check his ears when’s this first started and found nothing ,prescribed some ear cleaner but that didn’t help. Subsequently the vet suggested giving him antihistamine when the problem occurs which does seem to help once it kicks in after 20mibs or so. He can be fine fro hours on end and then the itching/scratching starts again maybe once a day, occasionally 2 or three times a day but not constantly. Totally at a loss to know what to do as I’d rather find a cure than just treat the problem. Could it be an allergy?? If so, how do I get to the bottom of the problem. Thanks
That does sound consistent with an allergy – unfortunately, skin allergies are quite common, and often affect the ears worst of all. There are a wide range of options, depending on how far you want to go. The “gold standard” approach would involve skin and possibly blood tests to confirm the allergens, and then medication to either control the allergy (much more effective products are now available than antihistamines which don’t really work terribly well in dogs) or even desensitise his immune system to the underlying causes (immunotherapy).
Of course, this is likely to be expensive, so your vet will also be able to go through alternative options with you, such as “therapeutic trials” (using medication first to see if it works), or trying a dietary exclusion, etc etc.
This does of course presume that it IS an allergic disease and not something else – from what you’ve said it sounds like your vet has ruled out other causes such as infections or mites, but it might be worth double checking with them.
I think the most important thing is to have a chat with your vet about this and say that you’d like more workup or more aggressive treatment; this may be something they can do in the clinic, or they may need to refer you to a veterinary dermatologist, but if it’s making him miserable then I agree you’ve got to do something for him.
Hope that helps!
Thank you, yes that’s very useful and helpful
Hello
I have a mixed breed dog
She lives outside not in the house
But this winter we let her in
She has about 6 years at top
I noticed that she scratches her ears hard and she starts Whines loud It reminds me of people when their ear’s itching But can’t scratch
So I looked it up and saw nothing, ears totally clear and fine
She has low ears but no fur irritating And I tried to clear her ears but when I touch her inside she begin to scratch like mad. What is wrong with her ears ? ?
There are lots of possible causes, but major possibilities would be war mites, allergies, or possibly mange on the ear flaps. I think a vet check is needed I’m afraid!
My german shepherd gets dirty ears and scabs on his back only in the winter what can I do. He doesnt have this problem in the summer. I clean his ears and wash him with oatmeal soap.
The seasonal pattern would suggest an allergic condition – many skin allergies show up as ear problems. I’m afraid I think that’s going to need veterinary attention, as skin allergies can be really hard to get to the bottom of without professional diagnostics.
After spraying my dogs kennel… after some time it started vomiting white foam n shakin its head and being weirdly low… what might be the problem
That sounds like poisoning, potentially from licking the spray – seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.
My 3 month old Yorkie is have these weird little episodes, where he starts shaking his head really fast and he starts spitting a lot and his nose gets stuffy. What could it be ?
There are a number of possibilities, but towards the top of my list would be either a foreign body up his nose (e.g. a grass blade or similar) or some kind of seizure. I think a vet checkup would be a good idea, to be honest.
My dog shacking and wake up and she fine
Although this could be a symptom of a health problem (ear disease or even a seizure), it could also be a bad dream! If ti keeps happening, or she shows any other symptoms, get her checked by your vet, but as a one-off I wouldn’t worry too much.
My dog keeps moving his head side to side and is quiet and quiet
There are sadly loads of different causes! It could be an ear infection (as the blog discusses), or something like vestibular syndrome, or even a stroke. I think a chat with your vet might be a good idea.
I’m at my wits end. I have 2 female shorkies that are 3 months old. When I brought them to the vet for their well ck within the 10 days of getting them, they both received their booster distemper shots I didn’t notice before hand but noticed soon after the shots my Luna was scratching her ear and wining and shaking her head. I took them for their last distemper booster 4 weeks later with complaints of both my pups Luna and Nova scratching their ears and a bit of the body and shaking their heads. The vet checked their ears said they looked good gave them some cream he inserted in each of their ears. Along with that last shot pulled hair out of ears to clean and still 2 weeks later the same. Brought them back and he gave them a shot which made them a bit tired but still no change. Mine you their itching and shaking of head is not something constant but I know it’s a bother, it would bother me if every so often I was doing that. The doc gave me prednisone 1 mg for them to take every day for 30 days. After looking at the side effects I decided against it. I have spent 600. And can’t spend any more. What can I do?
Unfortunately, it depends exactly what’s going on in there. This could be a sign of an underlying skin disease such as allergies; alternatively, it could be due to the conformation of their ears. There are anti-allergy drugs that have fewer side effects than steroids, but they are usually less effective and more expensive. I think you need to have a chat with your vet about what’s actually going on down there and what else you can do. I can’t recommend any specific treatments as I haven’t examined them and I don’t know what your vet’s diagnosis is.
I have a puggle, who is a rescue. He is “staining”, a small amount of drainage, from his anus only when snuggling me. Why does he do this when he is laying on me?
The most likely explanation is excitement and/or anxiety; however, it could be a low-grade diarrhoea problem too. Is he passing normal faeces the rest of the time?
I have just come across your site and live in Brisbane, Australia and wondered if i could ask you a question my mother who is 88 hasyr old cav king charles and was given dermotic for mites so she was told being on a budget she wants me to obtain some from the internet from your comments it would appear he may have yeast infection would you be able to tell me what would be the best medication to use and something that I would be able to buy off the internet making life a little cheaper. I do hope I have not been a nuisance in asking you for your advice in this matter. I will keep a note of your site and visit it more often as I to have a dog and a cat and the ifromation I have received from you has been very helpful. Thank you.
Ear disease is really complicated in dogs, and there’s very rarely only one cause. Usually, there are predisposing causes (e.g. conformation), precipitating causes (e.g. ear mites) and then perpetuating causes (e.g. yeast infections). I think the most responsible approach would be to get a firm diagnosis of the exact disease process from your vet, and then go from there!
He’s fine, he’s just disappointed in you.
Really.
My dog has developed white crust behind one of his ears , is their a home remedy you can recommend or should I go to the vet ?
The first step would probably be to very gently clean the area with salty water. If the skin underneath looks healthy and unbroken, then it’s probably just a crust of dirt and oils from the skin. Assuming that it’s not a simple scab from a small scratch (in which case it should fall off revealing healthy skin in a few days), if the crust is tightly attached to the skin, or the skin looks damaged underneath, it’s probably best to get it checked over.
Hi my dog is epileptic but he is on medication for it but recently he has been shaking his head but only like 2 shakes every other 10 mins I’ve checked inside his ears and they look fine just wondering what it could be?
Hi Leah,
You would be best getting him back to the vet, they can check deeper in the ears and may also have to adjust his medication. Dave RVN
Is there a safe home remedy for dogs ears when they keep shaking his head?
Hi Nancy, we wouldn’t recommend using any home remedy for ears as it could cause more issues with the ears pH, among other things. Head shaking usually means a further problem, ear mites is the number one suspect. These can also cause secondary infections, so really you dog needs to be seen by a vet, for treatment.
Hi my dog has just had a operation on his rib, he has come around and is constantly whining which I think is normal but he keeps staring at my wall which I find is rather odd? Any idea why he is doing this
Hi Lisa. It could be a slight after-effect of the anaesthetic if he’s feeling a little disorientated. I hope he’s doing much better now? If you’re still worried though and he’s showing any strange behaviour, I’d have a chat with your vet as they may want to see him for a check-up.
My dog shakes his head every time he picks up something to eat. He puts it in his mouth.. either pauses with it in his mouth for a while then shakes his head.. then chews.. He is over 17 years old now. 🙁 Could it be his teeth or ear mites or something else please? Thanks.
Hi Talia, we’d strongly advise getting him checked by a vet as soon as possible. This sounds like a dental pain and could even be an abscess. Please make an appointment to see your vet.
Hi I have a Chocolate American Pitbull. He has been shaking his head and scratching his ears. He’s been doing a lot more shaking of his head lately more than usual? He also has allergies. Is it something in my house that’s making him shake he’s head more. Can you please help me?
Hi Sharon. There are many things that can cause allergies, and you will typically see problems with ears, anal glands, feet etc in a dog with skin allergies. It’s possible that it could be an allergen within the house that’s causing him problems – some dogs are allergic to house dust mites, for example. Some dogs require a special diet to reduce allergies. I’d recommend speaking to your vet and getting him checked over – they may want to try something like an elimination diet trial to find out if it’s a food allergy, or they may recommend allergy testing to get to the bottom of the cause.
Hi my dog is shaking her body a lot, itching a lot, till now she had a sore and got infected , the vets just treated the wound nothing else, she paces a lot and when relaxed shoots up like if something biting her… Haven’t noticed any fleas plus only flea her 2wks ago… I can’t bare to see her like this any idea
Hi Geraint. This must be awful for you to see, we know what it’s like to see your pet in discomfort and not know the real cause. It could be something like a flea problem – so just make sure she’s treated with a vet-recommended flea treatment (these have been tested and are proven to be effective against fleas, whereas many over-the-counter products aren’t so effective). It’s also worth treating your house for fleas, as fleas will hide away in soft furnishings and then jump back onto your pet and bite. So use a household spray to treat carpets, sofas etc, paying particular attention to areas your dog spends the most time. Also wash all of her bedding on a hot wash, vacuum thoroughly etc, and make sure her worming is also up-to-date. If there are other pets in the household, make sure their flea treatment is up-to-date too. If you find she’s still having a problem, I’d recommend going back to your vet for a further check-up – they may need to do some skin tests to find out exactly what is causing her problem.
My springer spaniel has cut his ear does not seem to clear up is there anything I can do to heal it up
Hi Stan. If it’s not healing up by itself, I’d recommend taking your Springer along to your vet for a quick check-up to ensure there’s no infection present or any particular reason for it not healing.
Hi I have a 6 week old yorkie poo and I was laying with him and all of a sudden he starts shaking his head and like puffing his air out from his nose like if he had something in there and then while he was shaking his head like saliva/foam started coming out of his mouth! And then he went to the carpet and started dragging his nose on the carpet please help!
Hi Alex. It sounds as though something has irritated his nose for some reason, and that can be more common at this time of year with seasonal allergies etc. If he still seems to be suffering with his nose or seems unwell in any way, I’d recommend popping him along to your vet for a check-up as there could be a number of things which could cause him to have this reaction, so your vet will need to examine his nose and mouth/throat to make a diagnosis and see if any treatment is needed.
Hi I have a black lab mix she is about 8 yrs old I’m not sure what could be wrong she when she shakes her head she will do it real slow or try not to do it at all she also yelps when we touch her left ear what could be wrong with her? Thank you for any help you can give
Hi Melinda. It could be that she has something stuck in her ear, or that she’s got something like an ear infection – both can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. You’ll need to pop her along to your vet so that they’re able to examine down her ear fully, make a diagnosis and give her the appropriate treatment. Hope she feels better soon.
Hi Guys, I need help i have a jack russel about 4 years old he had a bump on his head under the skin now that the bump is almost gone his ears are swollen shut and he scratches non stop and he cannot hear me at all and he also shakes his head
Hi Lynette. You’ll need to take your dog along for a check-up with your vet, as it sounds as though he has a problem with his skin, which will commonly also display as ear problems. He needs some treatment as soon as possible as this will be very uncomfortable for him, and your vet will be best-placed to find out what’s causing this problem and treat it accordingly.
My dog is walking to a side and shakes he’s head and also has big balls?
Hi Andrew, head shaking and unbalanced walking is definitely cause to be examined by a vet ASAP. It can be indicative of a number of causes including but not limited to vestibular syndrome and ear mites. Not quite sure what you mean by ‘and also has big balls’ but I’d suggest you have this checked out too.
My dog is walking to a side and shakes he’s head and also has big balls?
Hi Andrew, head shaking and unbalanced walking is definitely cause to be examined by a vet ASAP. It can be indicative of a number of causes including but not limited to vestibular syndrome and ear mites. Not quite sure what you mean by ‘and also has big balls’ but I’d suggest you have this checked out too.
Hi my 4 month old Chihuahua is shaking his head, and scratching his left ear so much it’s bleeding, we have been advised to do benedryl and ear cleanings. He has an appointment coming up but, we are extremely nervous about the way he’s scratching his ear. Is there anyway to relieve him?
Hi Deinyell, we really feel for your little dog and feel that this is too complicated a condition to advise greatly over the internet. Considering his age, he is rather vulnerable and ear conditions are better sorted sooner rather than later to prevent further damage. Depending upon the problem, cleaning the ear might be aggravating it further. It would be sensible to bring your vet appointment forward if you can. Best wishes.
Hi my 4 month old Chihuahua is shaking his head, and scratching his left ear so much it’s bleeding, we have been advised to do benedryl and ear cleanings. He has an appointment coming up but, we are extremely nervous about the way he’s scratching his ear. Is there anyway to relieve him?
Hi Deinyell, we really feel for your little dog and feel that this is too complicated a condition to advise greatly over the internet. Considering his age, he is rather vulnerable and ear conditions are better sorted sooner rather than later to prevent further damage. Depending upon the problem, cleaning the ear might be aggravating it further. It would be sensible to bring your vet appointment forward if you can. Best wishes.
My dog started scratching at his ears and shaking them periodically. My vet gave me ADL ear drops and within a couple of hours my dog won’t stop shaking his head. Like they are irritated even worse. Is this normal?
Hi Jaime, it sounds as if you should get back in touch with your vet again since they know your dog’s history. If the medication hasn’t had the desired effect or indeed if it has made it worse then they are best placed to advise you. Many thanks.
My dog started scratching at his ears and shaking them periodically. My vet gave me ADL ear drops and within a couple of hours my dog won’t stop shaking his head. Like they are irritated even worse. Is this normal?
Hi Jaime, it sounds as if you should get back in touch with your vet again since they know your dog’s history. If the medication hasn’t had the desired effect or indeed if it has made it worse then they are best placed to advise you. Many thanks.
My dogs left ear he has been playing with it, it slowly shakes his head, what could be his problem?
There are a number of potential causes including but not limited to allergies, parasites, bacterial infection and polyps. I recommend taking him to be examined by a vet as it is likely to be uncomfortable for him and depending on the cause, serious damage could ensue. Best wishes
My dogs left ear he has been playing with it, it slowly shakes his head, what could be his problem?
There are a number of potential causes including but not limited to allergies, parasites, bacterial infection and polyps. I recommend taking him to be examined by a vet as it is likely to be uncomfortable for him and depending on the cause, serious damage could ensue. Best wishes
And it was in an up and down motion what Is wrong with her ?
And it was in an up and down motion what Is wrong with her ?
My dog kept shaking her head up and down for about 5 mins and then it stopped. What is wrong ?
Hi jenny, there are many reasons your dog could be shaking her head including but not limited to, allergies, parasites, grass seeds and aural haematoma. Something is obviously bothering her, making her uncomfortable and there is the potential for serious harm to result, depending on the cause. Therefore, I recommend you take her to be examined by your vet. Best wishes.
My dog kept shaking her head up and down for about 5 mins and then it stopped. What is wrong ?
Hi jenny, there are many reasons your dog could be shaking her head including but not limited to, allergies, parasites, grass seeds and aural haematoma. Something is obviously bothering her, making her uncomfortable and there is the potential for serious harm to result, depending on the cause. Therefore, I recommend you take her to be examined by your vet. Best wishes.
Hi. my 17 year old Chihuahua’s left ear is tilting down and he is shaking is head. he has had two fits today but he is eating and walking around as normal. what could be the reason for this?
what could i give him to relieve the pain?
Hi Patricia, please take your dog to be examined by a vet. I don’t know if he usually suffers with fits, for example, due to epilepsy however, any of these symptoms warrant having him examined. There are many reasons his ear might be affected including, but not restricted to a foreign body, mites or an allergy. It is likely to be uncomfortable for him and further, more serious damage may ensue. Fitting is another reason I recommend examination by a vet. Your vet will help you manage the pain however treating the cause is of key importance. Best wishes
Hi. my 17 year old Chihuahua’s left ear is tilting down and he is shaking is head. he has had two fits today but he is eating and walking around as normal. what could be the reason for this?
what could i give him to relieve the pain?
Hi Patricia, please take your dog to be examined by a vet. I don’t know if he usually suffers with fits, for example, due to epilepsy however, any of these symptoms warrant having him examined. There are many reasons his ear might be affected including, but not restricted to a foreign body, mites or an allergy. It is likely to be uncomfortable for him and further, more serious damage may ensue. Fitting is another reason I recommend examination by a vet. Your vet will help you manage the pain however treating the cause is of key importance. Best wishes
HI. My Chihuahua is about 5yrs & out of a sudden started tilting his head to the left side , able to walk slowly, no itching on ears, when to turn his head facing the right side.,started crying, did feel a lump underneath the ear flaps( right side )took him to vet hospital had x-rays done and didn’t find nothing? Any suggestions, should I be worried?
Hi Jean, we’re sorry to hear about your little Chihuahua. There are a number of reasons your dog might be experiencing a head-tilt, one possible cause is something called vestibular syndrome. The vestibular system helps mammals maintain a sense of balance and there is a whole host of things that can disrupt this system including ear infection, polyps and some sort of trauma, so getting to the cause is the tricky part. As I said before, there are many other reasons your dog might be tilting his head. The point really is that you know your dog and you know when something isn’t right. If the symptoms haven’t gone then further examination and diagnostics would be a sensible idea. I’d suggest you take him back to your vet and talk through the options or seek a second opinion. We wish you all the best
HI. My Chihuahua is about 5yrs & out of a sudden started tilting his head to the left side , able to walk slowly, no itching on ears, when to turn his head facing the right side.,started crying, did feel a lump underneath the ear flaps( right side )took him to vet hospital had x-rays done and didn’t find nothing? Any suggestions, should I be worried?
Hi Jean, we’re sorry to hear about your little Chihuahua. There are a number of reasons your dog might be experiencing a head-tilt, one possible cause is something called vestibular syndrome. The vestibular system helps mammals maintain a sense of balance and there is a whole host of things that can disrupt this system including ear infection, polyps and some sort of trauma, so getting to the cause is the tricky part. As I said before, there are many other reasons your dog might be tilting his head. The point really is that you know your dog and you know when something isn’t right. If the symptoms haven’t gone then further examination and diagnostics would be a sensible idea. I’d suggest you take him back to your vet and talk through the options or seek a second opinion. We wish you all the best
Our Lab is constantly itching his ears and shaking – regular vet check ups show little though he did have a course of antibiotics to be on the safe side as one ear was quite dirty far down – due to lots of swimming. Last summer due to all the swimming and then shaking he developed an blood blister which needed draining. Since then we are constantly on pins that he could well get another due to the itching/shaking – he shakes so hard.
Is there any way in which to control the itching/shaking – or at least minimise it? Obviously, after swimming dogs need to shake – so maybe less swimming is called for – though it is only a summer treat for him.
Any advice please warmly welcomed.
Hi Valerie,
The ear flap filling with blood is a worry. Do you use ear cleaner on him at all or any product that tackles earmites? Sometimes, especially if a dog is prone to ear problems, the treatment can be a long road. We’d suggest speaking to vet again for a closer look in the ears, even hairs can irritate! Swimming can definitely make the problem worse…
Our Lab is constantly itching his ears and shaking – regular vet check ups show little though he did have a course of antibiotics to be on the safe side as one ear was quite dirty far down – due to lots of swimming. Last summer due to all the swimming and then shaking he developed an blood blister which needed draining. Since then we are constantly on pins that he could well get another due to the itching/shaking – he shakes so hard.
Is there any way in which to control the itching/shaking – or at least minimise it? Obviously, after swimming dogs need to shake – so maybe less swimming is called for – though it is only a summer treat for him.
Any advice please warmly welcomed.
Hi Valerie,
The ear flap filling with blood is a worry. Do you use ear cleaner on him at all or any product that tackles earmites? Sometimes, especially if a dog is prone to ear problems, the treatment can be a long road. We’d suggest speaking to vet again for a closer look in the ears, even hairs can irritate! Swimming can definitely make the problem worse…
Please help my male chihuahua has a cut near his eye I would say on the bottom eye lid I don’t no how he done it but it was bleeding I stopped the bleeding but I’m still worried please help whay is the best thing to do i don’t have money for vets but if that’s what is advised I will have to
Hi April, thanks for getting in touch. Try not to panic. A vet can examine the cut and decide if sutures (stitches) or antibiotics etc are required, therefore this is likely to be the best course of action. I wonder if you have friends or family that can help with the finances or if there’s a local charity that might be able to help. Best wishes
Please help my male chihuahua has a cut near his eye I would say on the bottom eye lid I don’t no how he done it but it was bleeding I stopped the bleeding but I’m still worried please help whay is the best thing to do i don’t have money for vets but if that’s what is advised I will have to
Hi April, thanks for getting in touch. Try not to panic. A vet can examine the cut and decide if sutures (stitches) or antibiotics etc are required, therefore this is likely to be the best course of action. I wonder if you have friends or family that can help with the finances or if there’s a local charity that might be able to help. Best wishes
All the sudden my puppy woke and hasn’t stopped shaking her head for more then a minute or two at a time…I’m worried.
All the sudden my puppy woke and hasn’t stopped shaking her head for more then a minute or two at a time…I’m worried.
My 6yr old cockapoo yelps when he shakes his head or his ear is touched just right. He lets me scratch him there and I can gently apply pressure all over the floppy part and jaw area and hes fine with that, no redness or lumps or abrasions. Buddy has been to the vet and she didn’t find anything, but he still yelps when he shakes his head or if we touch him just so. Can he have a sprain?
It seems like you might need to take them back to the vet for another check over, just to be sure – you can always ask for a second opinion if you are very worried.
My 6yr old cockapoo yelps when he shakes his head or his ear is touched just right. He lets me scratch him there and I can gently apply pressure all over the floppy part and jaw area and hes fine with that, no redness or lumps or abrasions. Buddy has been to the vet and she didn’t find anything, but he still yelps when he shakes his head or if we touch him just so. Can he have a sprain?
It seems like you might need to take them back to the vet for another check over, just to be sure – you can always ask for a second opinion if you are very worried.
I have a 1 yr old dwarf American Brittany Spaniel who has been taken to the vet twice last week for not eating. The first visit I thought he had worms but never saw them. Vet said no worms and no fever. So he sent him home with 2 medicines for upset stomach. 3 days later he started vomiting dark green bile but still no food just water intake. So went back to the vet and they did blood work. His white blood count was 27000 with no fever and no other symptoms just not eating. So he was sent home with 3 antibiotics. He eat a little that night and a little the next day. Yesterday and today nothing to eat. He has been shaking some but will eat on a chew rawhide. What could be going on? We need help.
Hi Andrea, poor little chap… we’d suggest that he may need an abdominal xray to see if there is a problem in that area – it can help rule out certain issues such as a blockage in the bowel etc.
I have a 1 yr old dwarf American Brittany Spaniel who has been taken to the vet twice last week for not eating. The first visit I thought he had worms but never saw them. Vet said no worms and no fever. So he sent him home with 2 medicines for upset stomach. 3 days later he started vomiting dark green bile but still no food just water intake. So went back to the vet and they did blood work. His white blood count was 27000 with no fever and no other symptoms just not eating. So he was sent home with 3 antibiotics. He eat a little that night and a little the next day. Yesterday and today nothing to eat. He has been shaking some but will eat on a chew rawhide. What could be going on? We need help.
Hi Andrea, poor little chap… we’d suggest that he may need an abdominal xray to see if there is a problem in that area – it can help rule out certain issues such as a blockage in the bowel etc.
Cleaned the pup’s ears and he keeps scratching and shaking his head. He still plays and eat normally. What can it be? His ears are clean. There are no cuts or scabs from scratching. Thanks in advance.
Hi Connie,
It is possible that although his ears are clean , further down he might have something going on – ear mites etc. It would be a good idea to have them checked at your surgery.
Cleaned the pup’s ears and he keeps scratching and shaking his head. He still plays and eat normally. What can it be? His ears are clean. There are no cuts or scabs from scratching. Thanks in advance.
Hi Connie,
It is possible that although his ears are clean , further down he might have something going on – ear mites etc. It would be a good idea to have them checked at your surgery.
My dog got in a fight with a dog last night, and she was really shaken up all night. Today, she keeps shaking her head randomly and is lethargic and whines if pressure is applied to her head/ear area. My wife thinks it may be her ear, but I’m not entirely sure. Maybe some form of head trauma?
Hi Jordan, it could be, but it will be impossible and unfair to say so without a proper examination of the area. Which strongly advise get them checked with your own vet, they may need medication etc. which only your vet can prescribe.
My dog got in a fight with a dog last night, and she was really shaken up all night. Today, she keeps shaking her head randomly and is lethargic and whines if pressure is applied to her head/ear area. My wife thinks it may be her ear, but I’m not entirely sure. Maybe some form of head trauma?
Hi Jordan, it could be, but it will be impossible and unfair to say so without a proper examination of the area. Which strongly advise get them checked with your own vet, they may need medication etc. which only your vet can prescribe.
My puppy is shaking his head everytime volmit and he smell of blood, I only saw once blood coming out of his anal. Does it mean he dying or just sick?
Hi Jason, you puppy needs to see a vet as soon as possible. There could be a few reasons that he is showing these signs, but he needs to be seen. Please contact them now. Dave Vet Help Direct.
My puppy is shaking his head everytime volmit and he smell of blood, I only saw once blood coming out of his anal. Does it mean he dying or just sick?
Hi Jason, you puppy needs to see a vet as soon as possible. There could be a few reasons that he is showing these signs, but he needs to be seen. Please contact them now. Dave Vet Help Direct.
I have a Austrlian Shepard she scratches ears and shakes head. Scratches all over. Took her to the vet and they said to give her bendryl . No ear mites they could find nothing wrong.?????What to do.
Hi itchy skin can be a nightmare to solve… this blog may also give information to help https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2015/06/26/ask-a-vet-online-my-dog-has-skin-allergies-how-do-i-help/ if the medication is not working, please speak to you vet again. Dave Vet Help Direct.
I have a Austrlian Shepard she scratches ears and shakes head. Scratches all over. Took her to the vet and they said to give her bendryl . No ear mites they could find nothing wrong.?????What to do.
Hi itchy skin can be a nightmare to solve… this blog may also give information to help https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2015/06/26/ask-a-vet-online-my-dog-has-skin-allergies-how-do-i-help/ if the medication is not working, please speak to you vet again. Dave Vet Help Direct.
My puppies ear has changed shape, the one ear now no longer lies the same as the other, I can position it as the other but it falls out of shape easily, there is no swelling or change in behavior at all, nor is the puppy shaking his head as in irritated. His ears were fine and now they aren’t, di I need to be worried?
Hello, we wouldn’t be too worried, like humans things come in all shapes and sizes! Would only be concerned if there seem to be a swelling, or he was really scratching it it will shaking his head.
My puppies ear has changed shape, the one ear now no longer lies the same as the other, I can position it as the other but it falls out of shape easily, there is no swelling or change in behavior at all, nor is the puppy shaking his head as in irritated. His ears were fine and now they aren’t, di I need to be worried?
Hello, we wouldn’t be too worried, like humans things come in all shapes and sizes! Would only be concerned if there seem to be a swelling, or he was really scratching it it will shaking his head.
Hi,
My Pomeranian keeps shaking her head and has a drooping ear. I’ve had her ear checked by a vet and it’s fine. She had a tick near her eye, which we thought was the cause. She was given the expensive tablet for flea and tick treatment a week ago, but the head shaking and the drooping ear hasn’t improved. How long does it take for the flea/tick treatment to have an effect?
Hi,
My Pomeranian keeps shaking her head and has a drooping ear. I’ve had her ear checked by a vet and it’s fine. She had a tick near her eye, which we thought was the cause. She was given the expensive tablet for flea and tick treatment a week ago, but the head shaking and the drooping ear hasn’t improved. How long does it take for the flea/tick treatment to have an effect?
My shih tzu has a cut on the inside of her ear, she won’t stop scratching it and shaking her head. What is wrong with her?
HI, the cut is almost certainly the issue – it could be irritating her, or she could have made it scratching if her ear has a problem (ear mites, infection etc) – It is best to get her checked out with your vet.
My shih tzu has a cut on the inside of her ear, she won’t stop scratching it and shaking her head. What is wrong with her?
HI, the cut is almost certainly the issue – it could be irritating her, or she could have made it scratching if her ear has a problem (ear mites, infection etc) – It is best to get her checked out with your vet.
Why does my Chihuahua keeps going fast sideways along his gate he also won’t respond to my commands I thubj
Why does my Chihuahua keeps going fast sideways along his gate he also won’t respond to my commands I thubj
Hi,
My 2 year old japanese spitz male dog has been continuously shaking his head and itching his left ear like there is something inside his ear since the last 12 hours. I clean his ears regularly and the vet also examined him with otoscope and everything seems normal. The vet gave him anti-allergic pills and vaccine but even after 12 hours, my dog is still shaking his head badly. I am really scared. Can you kindly please suggest me what I need to do next? I am really very worried and cannot see him in so much discomfort. He is eating, barking and seems normal otherwise. When he is sleeping, he seems relaxed but once he wakes up, he starts doing that. I have him vaccinated and de-wormed regularly. What could be the possible causes other than what has been mentioned in this article? I would be very grateful to any suggestions.
Hi,
My 2 year old japanese spitz male dog has been continuously shaking his head and itching his left ear like there is something inside his ear since the last 12 hours. I clean his ears regularly and the vet also examined him with otoscope and everything seems normal. The vet gave him anti-allergic pills and vaccine but even after 12 hours, my dog is still shaking his head badly. I am really scared. Can you kindly please suggest me what I need to do next? I am really very worried and cannot see him in so much discomfort. He is eating, barking and seems normal otherwise. When he is sleeping, he seems relaxed but once he wakes up, he starts doing that. I have him vaccinated and de-wormed regularly. What could be the possible causes other than what has been mentioned in this article? I would be very grateful to any suggestions.
Hiya.
our staffy has recently started to close his eyes. They don’t appear to be wheeping or look swollen. I have bathed them using optrex but no improvement. Later today he seems to lose his appetite and isnt drinking a lot. A dog nearby usingthe same park has become uunwell except he doesn’t have the eye problem. Can it be an eye infection/hayfever? ?
Hiya.
our staffy has recently started to close his eyes. They don’t appear to be wheeping or look swollen. I have bathed them using optrex but no improvement. Later today he seems to lose his appetite and isnt drinking a lot. A dog nearby usingthe same park has become uunwell except he doesn’t have the eye problem. Can it be an eye infection/hayfever? ?
hi , my 7wks old german shephard puppy has been scratching her ear and shaking her head and wines when doing so she gets anxious and moves around I am super concern about it and would like a diagnosis thank you
Hi Alma, without a proper veterinary examination it is impossible to give a diagnosis – we strongly suggest you take your pup to your vet and they will be able to help.
hi , my 7wks old german shephard puppy has been scratching her ear and shaking her head and wines when doing so she gets anxious and moves around I am super concern about it and would like a diagnosis thank you
Hi Alma, without a proper veterinary examination it is impossible to give a diagnosis – we strongly suggest you take your pup to your vet and they will be able to help.
My bitch got in a fight with my make dog and now he keeps shaking his head he has a cut in his ear, will he be ok
My bitch got in a fight with my make dog and now he keeps shaking his head he has a cut in his ear, will he be ok
My 16 month old mixed breed dog has been treated for 2 ear infections and I’m having the Vet clean her ears every 6 weeks. We were there on Jan. 24th and they did a microscopic check and cleaned her ears (which were not dirty). No problems found.
In the last week we’ve had several salespeople bang on the front door and she has started to bark. For a short, but 50 lb dog, she has a HUGE and deep bark. After every bark, she shakes her head. The minute she stops barking, she no longer shakes her ears.
My car’s in the shop and the vet is 22 miles one way. I won’t have the car back until late next week. Should I be concerned or could this be a tickle?
She’s supposedly half Australian Shepherd and 1/2 American Bulldog. She has slightly folded ears, curled tail, half her body has long hair and half is short and tufts of fur sticking out of her chin. She’s a funny looking gal!
Hi, as I’m sure you can appreciate it is very difficult to give an accurate answer due to being online. It is possible that it’s a tickle – you don’t say whether she was anaesthetised for the procedures. Only by having a proper look inside the ear with a scope, can tell whether there is hair causing a tickle further down the canal, or if there is another problem in the ear canal.
My 16 month old mixed breed dog has been treated for 2 ear infections and I’m having the Vet clean her ears every 6 weeks. We were there on Jan. 24th and they did a microscopic check and cleaned her ears (which were not dirty). No problems found.
In the last week we’ve had several salespeople bang on the front door and she has started to bark. For a short, but 50 lb dog, she has a HUGE and deep bark. After every bark, she shakes her head. The minute she stops barking, she no longer shakes her ears.
My car’s in the shop and the vet is 22 miles one way. I won’t have the car back until late next week. Should I be concerned or could this be a tickle?
She’s supposedly half Australian Shepherd and 1/2 American Bulldog. She has slightly folded ears, curled tail, half her body has long hair and half is short and tufts of fur sticking out of her chin. She’s a funny looking gal!
Hi, as I’m sure you can appreciate it is very difficult to give an accurate answer due to being online. It is possible that it’s a tickle – you don’t say whether she was anaesthetised for the procedures. Only by having a proper look inside the ear with a scope, can tell whether there is hair causing a tickle further down the canal, or if there is another problem in the ear canal.
My staffy has a graze on his head caused by scratching which he won’t leave alone it’s starting to look sore is there anything I can do too help prevent this
Hi Paul, it’s probably best if you chat to your vet – has he got a cone to help stop him reaching the area, if the graze has been made by scratching, do you know the cause? A check over with your vet is a good idea.
My staffy has a graze on his head caused by scratching which he won’t leave alone it’s starting to look sore is there anything I can do too help prevent this
Hi Paul, it’s probably best if you chat to your vet – has he got a cone to help stop him reaching the area, if the graze has been made by scratching, do you know the cause? A check over with your vet is a good idea.
My husband tried to clean out our chow chow’s ears with Epi-Otic solution. After doing this she is shaking her head constantly now for a couple of days. No smell or irritation. Will take her to the vet tomorrow if not better. Any other suggestions?
My husband tried to clean out our chow chow’s ears with Epi-Otic solution. After doing this she is shaking her head constantly now for a couple of days. No smell or irritation. Will take her to the vet tomorrow if not better. Any other suggestions?
my dog has been shaking her head for over a month and scratches her ear every now and then. I was telling my daughter about it and her two dogs are doing the same they live in a different town but come visit about once or twice a month and bring dogs with. could this be something that is contagious. I looked in her ear it looks normal my dog is old english sheep dog, daughter has aussie and yorkie. any recomendations
It is possible they could have picked up some ear mites, these best course of action is to take them to your vets so they can be examined properly and any treatment prescribed.
My dog shakes for ears all the time but one ear in particular is the one that’s bothering her I’ve had this checked out numerous times they gave me some ear stuff to flush it out antibiotics and they told me that she has allergies and that’s what it’s called from but it comes and it goes..
Hi Tracie. If your vet has diagnosed allergies, it may be worth talking to them further about special diets that may help to reduce any skin irritation. There are many hypo-allergenic diets which can help ease symptoms, which could help with the flare-ups you’re describing
my dog has been shaking her head for over a month and scratches her ear every now and then. I was telling my daughter about it and her two dogs are doing the same they live in a different town but come visit about once or twice a month and bring dogs with. could this be something that is contagious. I looked in her ear it looks normal my dog is old english sheep dog, daughter has aussie and yorkie. any recomendations
It is possible they could have picked up some ear mites, these best course of action is to take them to your vets so they can be examined properly and any treatment prescribed.
My 8 and half puppy keeps shaking it’s head this morning. And when he is shaking his head there is a flow of saliva.It also scratches it’s ears.It walks fine drinks and eats well.And this is the first time of doing so.Is it because of any allergy
It could be an allergy yes, but I wouldn’t usually expect it to start that suddenly. It’s more likely he or she has a foreign body stuck in the ear, or ear mites. Definitely worth a vet check!
My dog has been shaking his head for about a yr. Have tried antibotic, mite meds, ear wash. No better
Hello Brenda, has your vet sedated your dog a had a good look down his ears at all?
My dog has been shaking his head for about a yr. Have tried antibotic, mite meds, ear wash. No better
Hello Brenda, has your vet sedated your dog a had a good look down his ears at all?
My 1 1/2 year old Chihuahua started acting different today one of her ears is not right and she keeps shaking her head and walking funny I looked in it and can’t see anything but she walks funny she is still eating and drinking fine what could it be.
Hi Sheila, without a proper examination using a scope it is impossible to say I’m afraid. The best thing is to pop them to the vets where they can have a good look and advise the best treatment.
My 1 1/2 year old Chihuahua started acting different today one of her ears is not right and she keeps shaking her head and walking funny I looked in it and can’t see anything but she walks funny she is still eating and drinking fine what could it be.
Hello I’m having kind of the same issue. I think my 13 week puppy got a little water in his ears after a bath. His been normal same playful behavior he just shakes and scratches at his left ear a lot. I got a nurse to clean his ears with a rinse, she said he’s ears were clean but he’s still shaking his head a lot. I don’t know what to do now and the next appointment is in 3 month because of COVID.
Definitely worth a telephone call to your vet – almost all vets are doing phone or video consults now, so worth a chat with them.
My one month old puppy is behaving the same and I have tried everything. We couldn’t even sleep well in the night. But I think am taking him to the vet
Definitely see your vet!
Hi Sheila, without a proper examination using a scope it is impossible to say I’m afraid. The best thing is to pop them to the vets where they can have a good look and advise the best treatment.